To Savor the Fall Colors of the Saguenay Quebec Fjords
By Bonnie Carroll
Saguenay Quebec Canada is in the Saguenay Lac-Saint-Jean region of Quebec on the Saguenay River, 120 miles south of Quebec City, at the confluence with the St. Lawrence River. It combines three burrows Chicoutimi, Jorquera and La Ball. It derived its name from Innu word “Saki-nip” or “Where Water Flows.” The Innu formerly called Montagnais from the French colonial period, are the indigenous people who inhabited the eastern portion of Quebec-Labrador Peninsula.
During a cruise on the Viking Star in the fall I had the pleasure of flying in a private seaplane to view the awe inspiring beauty of the Quebec Fjords. I began watching the seaplanes flying by my veranda and landing in the morning and was filled with excitement to disembark at the Saguenay port center for my scheduled flight.
The port area and center are beautiful with a colorful flag display and modern port building that houses an information and refreshment area as well as a souvenir gift shop and bathrooms. I spoke with several welcoming port representatives, all with charming Quebecois accents, and then was introduced to my pilot, who helped me board the seaplane with a few additional passengers.
It was a dreary day but happily not rainy or windy, which assured a.jpg)
safer flight. This seaplane seated six people, and I was happy to be the co-pilot, where I could get my best shots of the wonderment below. Our pilot had a great sense of humor and was very professional, making sure everyone was buckled in and wearing their earphones.
The Fjords are simply gorgeous from the air, especially with the brilliant colors of fall covering the hillsides. The experience of a Fjord is not describable. For me it is a combination of awesome, Godly, beautiful, and as peaceful as I imagine heaven would be.
On a past trip on the Viking Jupiter I woke up one morning and took a coffee out on the patio to find we were in the middle of the Danish Fjords, and I have never forgotten how dumbstruck I was. I said to my daughter “I think this is where God lives.” On this cruise I was unable to take a seaplane to do aerial photography due to very bad winds. All flights were canceled, and it was a disappointment. I did however go a shore to a lodge for an introduction to the best Danish coffee and pastry imaginable.
Our flight in Saguenay seemed too short, I could have stayed up there forever taking photos and soaking in the
incredible beauty of the fall colors covering the area below. Our seaplane landing, right in front of the Viking Star, was as smooth as glass and after slipping my handsome pilot a nice tip I trudged back to my ship for a delicious hot lunch and cup of tea with a view of Viking Star guests below leaving the ship to take a helicopter ride and also enjoy the amazing views of the Saguenay Fjords from the sky.
I highly recommend taking advantage of a sky view of these National treasures if you are traveling the world and especially if you find yourself in an area that is home to a Fjord. Partake in the amazing joy of a fjord by land, air or kayak. It’s so glorious! For cruising international Fjords information please visit: http://www.vikingcruises.com. For information on Saguenay Quebec Canada tourism visit: http://www.saguenaylacsaintjean.ca.
